What Biden Did to Trump's 3 Million Tree Planting Plan

On January 27, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a series of executive orders on climate change, including one that revoked the previous administration's "Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture" order, which required new federal buildings to be designed in a classical style, and another that placed a temporary moratorium on all oil and gas leasing activities in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, what caught the attention of many was his decision to halt a controversial tree-planting program initiated by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

The 3 Million Tree Planting Plan

In 2020, Trump announced a plan to plant 3 trillion trees worldwide to help combat climate change, with the United States being responsible for planting a billion of those trees by 2030. The plan was enthusiastically endorsed by many, including tree-planting organizations and some Republicans in Congress. However, environmental groups and experts raised concerns over the feasibility of such a massive undertaking, the potential for the program to incentivize deforestation, and the lack of details on how the plan would be implemented.

Why Biden Stopped the Plan

When Biden took office, he immediately made combating climate change a top priority of his administration. However, he believed that Trump's tree-planting program was not the best way to achieve that goal. Biden's team argued that the plan was flawed in many ways, including its lack of emphasis on preserving existing forests, its failure to incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices, and its potential to incentivize monoculture tree plantations instead of diverse natural forests.

In addition, Biden's administration cited the need to address the root causes of climate change, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, and protecting natural landscapes. The tree-planting program, they claimed, was a distraction from addressing these systemic issues and could give the false impression that planting trees alone could solve climate change.

Biden's Alternative Vision

Instead of Trump's tree-planting program, the Biden administration has proposed a more holistic and integrated approach to combatting climate change. Biden's plan, called "30x30," aims to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 by creating new national parks, expanding wildlife refuges, improving forest management, and supporting indigenous-led conservation efforts. The 30x30 initiative is based on the idea that protecting and restoring natural landscapes, including forests, can help sequester carbon, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and provide other benefits like biodiversity conservation and recreational opportunities.

The Biden administration has also pledged to invest in other nature-based solutions like regenerative agriculture, wetland and coastal restoration, and urban green spaces to help address climate change and promote equity and resilience in communities.

The Importance of Getting it Right

The issue of tree planting may seem trivial in the grand scheme of climate change, but it is a complex and important aspect of climate policy. Trees are one of the most effective carbon sinks and can play a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of climate change. However, trees alone are not enough to solve the problem. Planting the wrong types of trees, in the wrong places, or with the wrong methods can have unintended consequences and even exacerbate the problem.

Ultimately, the success of any climate policy depends on a balanced approach that considers multiple factors and stakeholders. Biden's decision to halt Trump's tree-planting program and propose a new approach reflects a recognition of the complexity of the issue and a willingness to listen to scientific experts, environmental groups, and indigenous communities. As the U.S. and other countries grapple with the challenge of climate change, it will be essential to get it right.